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Big Picture
Daniel asks Vella what she would like to accomplish in her lifetime.
Daniel: Hey, Vella. Well we're talking about things, big things you want to achieve in your life, so how about you? What do want to do?
Vella: Well, one of my biggest dreams is to become an actress.
Daniel: Uh-uh.
Vella: Because I really love acting and, you know, it would be fun to act in a movie and to play, you know, as a different character than who you really are.
Daniel: Uh-uh. What kind of movies especially, do you have any preferences?
Vella: I would love to try all characters. You know, maybe play in a horror movie or comedy or romance, anything.
Daniel: Where do you want to do this? Back in Indonesia, in the States?
Vella: Well, I would love to become a Hollywood actress, but it might be too impossible so I would just try in Indonesia first, and maybe if I can go international, then that would be amazing.
Daniel: OK, good. Do you have any, like do you want to do it within ten years or something?
Vella: Well, since I'm graduating pretty soon, I would love to try, you know, as soon as I get back to Indonesia.
Daniel: Uh-uh.
Vella: And, you know, start trying to go to agencies.
Daniel: Is there any other dream that you want to achieve?
Vella: This might sound silly, but I love Ricky Martin.
Daniel: Uh-uh.
Vella: And, you know, I really want to have the chance to meet him and maybe dance with him.
Daniel: OK.
Vella: Because he's Latino and I'm really into Latin culture, and I know that dancing is really, you know, a big part of the culture.
Daniel: Oh, yeah, it is.
Vella: And it will be really amazing if I could just dance, you know, with Ricky Martin.
Daniel: He's a really good dancer.
Vella: And maybe I could be in his music video.
Daniel: That would be nice. That would be really, really nice.
Vella: And the last thing is probably get married and start my own family.
Daniel: Uh-uh. How is that going? Do you have any plans? Do you have a boyfriend, like do you have any...?
Vella: Well, I'm in a relationship right now, so hopefully that goes well.
Daniel: Oh, good. So you want to start a family right?
Vella: Yes.
Daniel: How many children would you like to have?
Vella: Two to three, maximum three.
Daniel: Two to three, OK.
Vella: I would love to have twins.
Daniel: Wow, why?
Vella: A girl and a boy so ....
Daniel: Why?
Vella: I don't know.
Daniel: Oh, it sounds, it sounds really fun.
Vella: Because no one in my family, you know, has twins, so I think it would be cool to be the first one to have twins.
Daniel: But at the same time, it seems to me to be quite hard to raise like twins because everything comes double, you know.
Vella: It's the same thing as having like two or three children, you know, you just get them at the same time.
Daniel: That's why it's even harder because you have, I don't know, double expenses, double everything.
Vella: Yeah, well I'd just love to try having twins.
Daniel: No, great, that sounds like a good plan. Thanks.
agency
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When I finish school, maybe I'll start going to agencies.
In this case, an 'agency' is a company that works to find jobs for actors or actors for certain roles. Notice the following:
- What is the best advertising agency in the area?
- There are many modeling agencies in the city.
have the chance
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I really want to have the change to meet him.
'Have the chance' is the same as 'have the opportunity.' Notice the following:
- I hope some day I have the change to go to Italy.
- Will you call me later if you have the chance?
start a family
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I'll probably get married and start a family.
When you 'start a family,' you begin to have children. Notice the following:
- A few years ago she was still in school, and now she is
married and has started a family.
- I want to be young when I start a family.
expenses
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It's harder to have twins, because you have extra expenses.
'Expenses' are things you have to pay for just to maintain your life and stay alive. Notice the following:
- How much are expenses every month in this apartment?
- We will give you a place to stay, but you have to pay for food and other expenses.
double
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Having twins means double everything.
If you have 'double everything,' it means that you have twice or two times as much as you would normally have. Notice the following:
- Gas prices have more than doubled in the last 6 years.
- Having two kids means washing double the clothes.
Vocabulary Quiz
expense • double
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About the Teacher / Creator
Hello, and welcome to elllo. My name is Todd Beuckens. I've been an ESL teacher for 25 years. I created elllo to provide teachers and students free audio lessons and learning materials not usually found in commercial textbooks.
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